BL!SSS Magazine | April 2013 | #68

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– ERIK ELLINGTON

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LIZARD KING

WINDSOR JAMES

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– ERIK ELLINGTON – K-SLIM 5-POCKET TWILL ROUTINE WOVEN –

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VANSSURF.COM Š2013, Vans Inc. photo: William Sharp

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Arguably the world’s most sought-after surfer, Dane Reynolds is a humble enigma. While most likely surfing more than any human on the planet, he still finds time for music, art, and editing. Vans worked with Dane to combine his own art, an aloha print, and the material from an old comfortable coat to translate into this collection. Dane chose his three favorite styles for this special pack, available at the best surf shops around the world.

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T O U R

D A T E S

A P R I L 1 8 L E P A P A G AY O , L E U C A D I A , C A

APRIL 24 MALIBU BEACH INN, MALIBU, CA

APRIL 25 BIRD’S SURF SHED, SAN DIEGO, CA

A P R I L 2 6 L A P A L O M A T H E AT E R , E N C I N I TA S , C A

A P R I L 2 7 PA C WAV E S P R I N G F L I N G , S A N TA C R U Z , C A

M AY 1 W H AT Y O U T H H Q , C O S TA M E S A , C A

MAY 2 TRIANGLE SQUARE (NBFF), NEWPORT BEACH, CA

#JUST PASSING THROUGH

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KC ONE


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DIRT NASTY

2012-12 Los Angeles, U.S.A

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M2 COTTON

95% COTTON / 5% ELASTANE

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A Prod uct of

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BABES & BEAR HEADS

model: Jazmine Yurtin photo by Ryan Mark

EZEKIELUSA.COM INSTAGRAM: EZEKIELCLOTHING

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EDITOR-IN-CHI EF nick kalionzes nick@blisssmag.com

EDITOR

joey marshall joey@blisssmag.com

CREATIVE DIR EC TOR mark paul deren : madsteez madsteez@madsteez.com

A SSIS TANT EDITOR spencer pirdy spencer@blisssmag.com

EDITOR AT L ARGE liz rice mcCray liz@blisssmag.com

SKATE EDITOR chris ortiz chris@blisssmag.com

SNOW EDITOR jon francis jon@blisssmag.com

MUS IC EDITOR max ritter max@blisssmag.com

ADV ERTISIN G ads@blisssmag.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jason Kenworthy, Dominic Petruzzi, Daniel Russo, Toby Ogden, Tom Carey, Brian Beilmann, Jack Coleman, Andrew Mapstone, Adam Moran, Dave Nelson, Pat Eichstaedt, Julien Lecorps, Ryan Boyes, Zach Hooper, Tim Peare, Michael Lallande, Bob Plumb, Peter Morning, Bryce Kanights, Arto Sarri, Anthony Acosta, Cameron Strand, Brian Fick, Deville Nunns, Gage Thompson

CONTRIBUTOR S

Matt Patterson, Willie Marshall, Daniel Russo, Jason Arnold, Greg Escalante, Nathan Spoor, Tom Carey, Travis Millard, David Choe, Kai Garcia, Mickey Neilsen, Peter Townend, Hamilton Endo, Tawnya Schultz, Mike Murciano, Geoff Shively, Casey Holland, Steve Stratton, Robbie Sell, Andrew Miller, Pat Towersey, Raul Montoya, Ian Dodge, Spencer Pirdy, Richie Olivares, Eric Meyers, Kelly Shannon

THE DERBI

BL!SSS Magazine 413 31st Street

Ellis Ericson Through The Eyes of Jimmy James

APRIL 2013

Newport Beach, CA 92663 www.blisssmag.com Disclaimer: Although all best efforts are made to avoid the same, we reserve the right to publish unintentional mistakes and/or factual errors which may occur on a monthly basis. No responsibility is assumed by the publishers for unsolicited materials/articles/letters/advertising and all submissions will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright and/or appropriate licensing purposes subject to Blisss’ right to edit and comment editorially. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine reflect the opinions of their respective authors and are not necessarily those of the publisher or the editorial team. Blisss Magazine reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising matter which may reflect negatively on the integrity of the magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form [print or electronic] without prior written consent from the publisher.

If your favorite shop isn’t receiving BL!SSS Magazine please contact info@blisssmag.com

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ART: DALEAST

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Dusty Payne

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WATERSHOT PRO

DUSTY WINS MARGARET

The boys and girls over at Watershot Inc. just sent us their latest underwater housings for the iPhone 5. They’ve released two new models to choose from, the Watershot and the Watershot Pro, both of which should be available by the time this issue hits the street. The Watershot Pro (pictured here) comes with a flat and a wide-angle lens to cover all your photography needs. And like everything Watershot makes, these housing are built to live in the water – withstanding rocks, reef, salt, sand and extreme pressure, and safe up to 195 feet. We also just got word that they’re in the process of fine-tuning their new iPhone app that will interface with Instagram for instantaneous sharing. A no-brainer for all water enthusiasts, visit watershot.com to learn more and make sure to snag yourself one today.

Dusty Payne took out his first professional win this past month in western Australia at the Margaret River Drug Aware Pro. It really is a surprise that for a surfer of Dusty’s caliber this was his first-ever professional win. But hey, better late than never, right? Dusty ripped past a field of star-studded competitors, dealing with some giant Margaret’s walls of water in the process. In the final he met one of the world’s best, Josh Kerr, and it was there that Dusty dug deep and threw down a near-perfect ride en route to victory. The young, talented Maui ripper has had his own hurdles to jump in the past year, as he battled an injury that had him sidelined for a good part of 2012. Now, Dusty seems to be rejuvenated and ready to continue charging in the first half of the year. We really do enjoy watching Dusty’s insane surfing, and we’re excited to see if he can back up the win at Bells!

REMEMBER TO REMEMBER Our pal and talented photographer Beau Roulette sent us over a copy of his new book Remember to Remember. The book is a compilation of images from Beau’s years spent snapping away behind the lens of a Pentax UC-1 camera. Within the pages of the book you’ll find some of the most entertaining pictures around. From the perverse and scandalous to raw and hilarious, the shock value that this book holds is priceless. While most of the photos are of subjects Beau has encountered over the years, there is one photograph in particular in which he is featured. We’re not going to give it away, but we promise that when you get the book and see for yourself you’ll be quite amazed. We suggest you all head on over to beauroulette. com and purchase a copy of Remember to Remember or to check out more of Beau’s work.

NIXON 48-20 CHRONO NIKE KOSTON 2

Eric Koston has been one of the world’s best skateboarders for the past 20 plus years and still shows no signs of letting up. Eric and Nike have finished the final touches on his Koston 2 and this badass shoe is now available to the public. The shoe perfectly bridges Eric’s sense of style with functionality. It never hurts to have Nike technology on your side, and the two were able to come up with a lightweight and durable shoe that you’ll never want to take off. There’s also a pretty classic commercial of Eric and his new shoe star that can be viewed on nikesb.com, so check it out and get your hands on the Koston 2 while you’re at it.

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Nixon has an arsenal of watches that range from the most practical and durable to the most intricate and polished of timepieces. Speaking on the last of those, our eyes were instantly drawn to Nixon’s all new 48-20 Chrono watch that was just released. The watch is as fine-tuned as they come, with speed and torque inspired measuring instruments and a clean, sophisticated look that anyone with an eye for style will enjoy. Nixon has also announced that the 48-20 Chrono will be coming out in a special black/ baby blue limited edition color way as well, so keep your eyes peeled for this eye-popping watch at nearby retailers.


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MAHALO Globe has been working closely with team rider and all-around skate legend Mark Appleyard and they have just released his new signature shoe, The Mahalo. The Mahalo is a low-top, vulcanized shoe built for high-impact skate performance and comes with Globe’s Pu Shockbed with impact control. Unlike other skate-specific shoes, style isn’t compromised in the Mahalo. This shoe still manages to maintain Hawaiian spirit and comes in high-grade shaved suede/ canvas as well as a super clean canvas. The shoe has three distinctively eyepleasing color ways for you to choose from, making this Aloha-inspired shoe a must-have. Check out The Mahalo and the rest of Globe’s line at globe.tv.

ROARK IN BALI Roark has surfaced again. A package with postcard and a few Bintangs showed up at our BL!SSS office last week. Correspondence reads, “The trip was long. It was religious without following, sacrificial without loss, and by the time it was over, it was 8-10 feet again.” It appears Roark has been meandering throughout Indonesia, breaking through the disorientation of Kuta, exploring outer atolls, foreign states of mind and frivolous amounts of Bintang. The Volume 4 “Bali High” collection features sweaty, jungle-tarnished garments and new trinkets that could only fall out of Roark’s pocket. Read and see the artifacts of adventure at roarkrevival.com or at a shop near you.

LEARNING TO BREATHE

There’s a new film coming out this month that’s shining light on the often-hushed topic of recreational drug use in our industry. The film goes by the name of Learning to Breathe and it’s a first-hand account of expro surfer Anthony Ruffo’s battle with drug addiction and the law. The film follows the Santa Cruz local as he deals with life after he’s stripped of sponsorships and, ultimately, his own freedom. The movie contains interviews with Christian Fletcher, Pete Mel, Darryl “Flea” Virostko and more that candidly describe their own personal experiences with drugs. It’s a refreshing film that will leave you appreciating the transparent approach these filmmakers took. For more information on the film, click on over to learningtobreathefilm.com, and look for the movie to hit the big screen sometime this month.

RAREFORM

We enjoy seeing new companies on the rise with an environmental purpose in mind. Rareform is a new brand that just launched about six months ago that recycles freeway advertising billboards into surfboard bags, backpacks, paddle bags, change mats and tote bags – each bag 100% unique and made in California. These guys have found a new, fun and creative way to go green and it’s just a matter of time before they start gaining recognition. They are in Patagonia stores and other exclusive shops right now, and you can also go online to rareform.com to check them out and buy a bag with recycling in mind.

BAD RELIGON Bad Religion was in the Hurley Studios rehearsing for their upcoming tour that started March 8th and runs till April 20th. They performed a live studio version of “True North,” which is the title track of their new record. While Bad Religion was rehearsing, the folks at Hurley were able to record the live session and sit down and get an interview with the iconic band. The live rehearsal and interview can be viewed in its entirety at hurley. com. Once you’re done enjoying the timeless sounds of Bad Religion, head on over to badreligion.com for North American tour dates and to find out when they’re making their next stop near you. Also, be sure to pick up their new record “True North.”

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randoms UNDERGROUND LOUNGE By the time this ink hits your fingers, Mammoth’s newest hot spot will have already had its grand opening. The Underground Lounge is Mammoth’s newest live music venue and is set to feature various indie talent throughout the season. Featuring comfort food, featured cocktails, great music and a comfortable rustic mountain atmosphere, be sure to check out the Underground Lounge the next time you’re on the slopes at California’s finest mountain. Open everyday of the week except Wednesdays, expect to hear a lot more about the Underground Lounge in upcoming issues of your favorite magazine.

VICE HBO The crew that’s brought us Vice Magazine and vice.com have just hit it big, as they’ve teamed up with HBO and are set to air there first HBO series this month. Taking on all the things for which we’ve come to love Vice, expect to see blood, sex, corruption, drugs and just about any other off-the-wall thing you can possibly imagine. It’s unfiltered and as real as it gets, and you’re not gonna believe some the weird, scary shit that’s happening in other parts of the world. Set to premiere April 5, we’ve already set our DVRs and expect you to as well.

PIE-NOT For those lucky enough to have experienced the sweet, delicious goodness known as the Australian meat pie, then you know of the wonders that lie beneath that golden brown crust. For those who haven’t, well, you’re in luck because Pie-Not is now up and running. Our mates Ryan Lopiccolo and Jai Snowdon are the founders of Pie-Not, and they have brought Americans a new casual dining experience that specializes in a range of gourmet Australian meat and vegetarian pies and pastries. Whether you’re looking for a way to start your day, a quick snack or a new dining spot with unique ambiance, Pie-Not will have you and your appetite perfectly satisfied. Stop on by at 270 17th street, suite 17 in Costa Mesa and be prepared to add this delectable Aussie-style bakery as one your favorite dining destinations.

UPROOTED TEES GOOCH There’s another hot little brand gaining some big traction from Laguna Beach and it goes by the name of Gooch. The two local masterminds behind this new brand are none other than Jesse Westgaard and Butch McIntosh. Anyone who has spent any time in Laguna has surely to run across these two, either on the sand, in the water or at a local watering hole. We’re more than stoked for our pals down south and expect big things to come. Stay Gooch, my friends.

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We recently met the folks behind Uprooted Tees, a new t-shirt company from Newport Beach with the goal of putting smiles on people’s faces one torso at a time. Uprooted Tees are truly one-of-a-kind with original, quirky designs printed on top of quality, form-fitting tees that become softer with each wash. Uprooted Tees encompass all ages and walks of life. They can even be used as the perfect icebreaker when you’re out on the town. Hell, you may even get lucky wearing one of these tees, which works out perfectly because they make onesies for the little ones as well. But seriously, life’s too short to wear boring old tees, so you might as well spice it up a bit and make some people laugh. To peruse through the whole Uprooted Tees line and purchase the perfect t-shirt, head on over to kingsroadmerch.com.


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Smith Mastermind smithoptics.com

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Electric Rip Rock electricvisual.com

Wonderland Palms wonderlandsun.com

Raen The Garwood raenoptics.com

Arnette Witch Doctor arnette.com

Oakley Frogskins – Skate Deck Collection oakley.com

Kaenon Bluesmaster kaenon.com

Filtrate Oxford filtrateeyewear.com

Sabre Showtime sabre.fm

IVI Jagger ivivision.com

LRG MrIncentive l-r-g.com

Dragon Mansfield dragonalliance.com

Dizm JohnnyJohns dizmeyewear.com

Vestal Windrose vestalwatch.com



New Mexican artist Jennifer Nehrbass invests much time into each painting. A graduate of University of Wisconsin, NYU and University of New Mexico, she has received project and research grants. Her new painting series is driven by obsession of a place where memory

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and desire collide. They reinterpret visions of the west where Manifest Destiny left an indelible mark on the history and landscape beyond the 100th meridian. At one time these environments were alive, species vital, but now what remains are memento mori of a surreal space in time and location.

Realism mixes with abstraction to fuel the tension between the physical and intellectual experience of space. The figures are always hyper real, navigating through scenic backdrops to a world created by their own intellectual making. The tension between the realism of the figure and

the abstracted background help articulate our current culture’s disassociation with the natural world. They explore snapshots of youthful nostalgia that is both tangible and imagined. In more formal terms, these collage-inspired paintings play with the language of paint. To see more of Jennifer’s work check out jennifernehrbass.com.


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“LA’s Project Gallery, is bringing a little Stone’s history to our area with their exhibit “50 Years of The Rolling Stones: A Rock & Roll Retrospective” featuring rare, intimate and neverbefore-seen photos of the Stones.”

Words: Jen DiSisto Photo: Ken Regan

This year marks The Rolling Stones 50th anniversary. Yeah, they’ve been rockin’ for a while. As such, the band will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a special tribute this May. But before that, LA’s newcomer, Project Gallery, is bringing a little Stone’s history to our area with their exhibit “50 Years of The Rolling Stones: A Rock & Roll Retrospective” featuring rare, intimate and never-before-seen photos of the Stones. This show depicts music’s most notorious

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bad boys at every stage of their incredible 50-year career. Shot by the most iconic of their photographers, including renowned and legendary photographers Ken Regan, Barrie Wentzell, Ethan Russell, Lynn Goldsmith, Neal Preston, Philip Townsend and many others. Ken Regan has shot over 200 magazine covers and spent intimate time with The Stones and Andy Warhol in Montauk in 1975. Barrie Wentzell went to work shooting

The Stones between 1965-1975 while at music magazine Melody Maker. Barrie shot many unknowns during that decade that turned into global superstars. Ethan Russell shot covers for The Who, The Stones and The Beatles and was The Stones main photographer from 1968-1972. This unique exhibition depicts one of the world’s most notorious and beloved acts and visually weaves much of the story of their incredible 50-year career.

Also in the exhibit are worldrenowned photographers Lynn Goldsmith, Neal Preston and Philip Townsend. These people are the real deal… and you thought you had stories. If you happen to be in LA make sure to swing by “50 Years of The Rolling Stones: A Rock & Roll Retrospective” at Project Gallery, 1553 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. ‘til 7 p.m., seven days a week, and the exhibition is up until April 21st. Checkout all the gallery has to offer at projectla.net.


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“Xi’s work is gutsy, well crafted and particularly immersive. The effortless flow within his studio reveals a gifted artist continually learning to paint.”

Words: Ivar Zeile :: plusgallery.com With finishing touches recently completed on his new 50-page catalogue, artist Xi Zhang is ready for the April solo exhibition at the McNichols Civic Center, Denver’s newest cultural complex. The center is massive. One would be hard pressed to find any artist under 30 ready to fill the second floor of the building, but Xi is a very rare artist and paints as if there’s no tomorrow. Zhang moved from Kaifeng, China, to the United States in 2004 in his late teens to attend the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. Everyone there revered the young transplant, even though he spoke very little English, something he made up for with a genuine, animated personality that embraced everything surrounding him. And his artwork spoke volumes. He was fearless in his approach and fully embraced the freedom and spirited that had spawned some of the best artists from the region. His initial exhibition comprised of a robust

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selection of intricate figurative paintings in ecstatic colors, some as large as 8 x 8 feet, all intended to be viewed with 3D viewing glasses. This was just a taste of what was in store for more radical works to come, as Zhang quickly proved to be an endless swirl of forward momentum. His next exhibition took place at one of the city’s leading contemporary venues and resulted in Zhang being hailed as the “emerging artist of the year” by the Denver Post.

mean feat for someone his age. This allowed him to represent the United States through the Denver Biennial of the Americas last fall in Buenos Aires for the URRA artist residency program. His upcoming four-month long McNichols exhibition “21st Century DNA” pulls together everything currently in his studio along with works from local collections, and it will run concurrently with Denver’s latest iteration of their Biennial.

Since then his credentials list has built up with striking ferocity. In the last five years he has exhibited at the Denver International Airport, been commissioned by CNN for their “Ripple” 9/11 10-year anniversary project, mounted two solo exhibitions at Plus Gallery and most recently delivered an extensive lecture at the Denver Art Museum as part of their prestigious Logan Lecture Series. In 2012 Zhang received his US citizenship as an “Artist of Extraordinary Ability,” no

Xi’s work is gutsy, well crafted and particularly immersive. The effortless flow within his studio reveals a gifted artist continually learning to paint, often with up to three distinct bodies of work in progress. His practice confronts new technology and its ideal relationship with pop culture, in what he calls “our new addiction to technology that alters our minds and perceptions of the world.” Online references from Facebook and Google searches swirl with a heady mixture of pop-icons, graffiti-tags,

video game, cartoon, advertisement references... you name it, and often within the context of historical icons such as classic Asian and European paintings, traditional photography and ancient calligraphy, elements that are deeply seated from his upbringing in China. The result is visually dense and exciting, achieving what one of the leading art critics from Denver dubbed “a kind of visual charisma.” In one recent series, Xi tackles the concept of how 21st Century life looks within a traditional Chinese composition, leading to graphically hilarious results. These often smaller-scale works on Chinese golf-leaf paper reference online dating and the technology that allows it to flourish. They playfully read as our society’s current obsessions and the artist’s whole-hearted embrace of them, warts and all. For Zhang, we are all unified in spirit, our faces interchangeable across cultural, philosophical and historical lines.



“Got To Get It Out Of My Head doesn’t need a lot of explaining,” Amundson says. “It had been on my mind for several years and I finally had to do it to… uh, get it out of my head.”

Words: Ivar Zeile

Though he originally hails from Wisconsin, Bill Amundson is one of Colorado’s best-kept secrets, a scathing satirist working in what he calls the “Suburban Regionalist” mode with some of the most advanced drawing skills in the world. Amundson’s 30-year career has taken place largely in Colorado, with recent works acquired by all of the state’s major collecting Museums. His 2011 artist talk, corresponding with his last solo exhibition “Blurred Vision,” found over 200 people packed like sardines inside Plus Gallery’s exhibition space to hear Bill speak, something he is also very, very good at, so much so that the Denver Art Museum asked him to give a career-focused lecture last year as part of their prestigious Logan Lecture series. Almost everyone who buys art in Denver has something by Bill, albeit small works he pushed out to the masses through arts

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festivals in what he calls his own subversive form of “street art.” But Bill’s more substantial works are largely collector-only territory, and he has more than a few heavyweight fans in that category that have supported his major efforts of the last decade. He’s drawn everyone from Dick Cheney as a power-plant, Rush Limbaugh as a Jeff Koons’ suspension tank to Sarah Palin as a towering symbol of American stupidity, complete with woodworker drills aimed at the ground. No topic is sacred for Bill, but his most revered works still tend to be his less-thanflattering self portraits. Bill shares his thoughts here from several of his best of the last few years. “Branded Man is the first of my larger scale portraits,” he explains. “It comes from a conversation I had with a self proclaimed ‘branding expert’ who believed that all humans, objects and activities are essentially

commodities to be marketed to one another. He not only thought that this was a terrific idea, but that it was the very essence of what it meant to be an American. I took the idea of branding literally and created a logocentric individual based on myself. The man accepts his branded status in a rather sheepish manner, not sure if he should be thankful or embarrassed by the questionable honor bestow upon him. “For years the fellow in Tech Savvy and Solar! coveted his friends who had the hi-tech Bluetooth attached to their ear, so they could appear to talk to absolutely no one as they went about their daily business. When he finally purchased his own, however, he realized it was inadequate for his needs and he began adding additional high-tech devices. Some of these rejected the latest designs, some were decidedly retro in nature. Eventually he

indulged in surgery to enhance his functionality. He also added solar panels in a bid for complete selfsufficiency. His own surveillance camera makes sure he behaves responsibly at all times. He is reportedly quite pleased with the results and enjoys the attention he garners whenever he appears in public. “Got To Get It Out Of My Head doesn’t need a lot of explaining,” Amundson says. “It had been on my mind for several years and I finally had to do it to… uh, get it out of my head. Suffice it to say, that the old maxim “To thine own self be true” has always just caused me a lot of consternation and confusion.” For more of Bill, tune into youtube and discover a few of his impromptu speaking engagements and discussions of his work. More of Bill’s work can be found through plusgallery.com.



“Since the birth of my son I have also explored ideas in my work that touch upon the anxieties of raising a child in an environment that I believe is on the brink of disaster due to the greed and ignorant over consumption of the planet’s resources.” My early work was a response to the difficulty of selfidentification in a post-industrial Wales. It reflected the problem of self-value and worth in a new, non self-sufficient country where every corner and horizon echoed the past, yet every TV and computer pointed forward. The youth of my generation were born into the void leftover in a post-industrial country, and patriotic pride was hard to come by. My paintings were born out of the rebellion against complacency and apathy that was inbred, being brought up in a very grey, poor town. My art has been and continues to be a report on culture and society, and it shows the more honest side of these crutches upon which our humanity relies. I believe therefore my work has more in common

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with the folk songwriters and is born of a very old tradition of storytelling and prose from Celtic mythology such as the Mabinogion. Some comparisons of my works have been with Irish folk songs and the political and social commentary of artists like Bob Dylan. My current work isn’t as locally subjective as it once was. I believed at one time that I could only paint about what I knew and was intimate with, which were Wales and its people. Having spent the better part of this decade travelling the world I believe now that I am qualified to speak of broader issues and paint things I have experienced, maybe not in the same way as the locals to these areas have experienced but through the eyes of a visitor and yet maintain legitimacy

in my expression. The works I have completed while living in California have been quite different to my Welsh Paintings – mainly in the way the characters relate to their surroundings. In my Welsh paintings, the figures and the backgrounds are treated the same and almost meld into one another, as is the case in reality where the generations still live in the same village for centuries. In my recent works in Los Angeles the opposite is true; the figures are detached from their environment both aesthetically and physically because of the nature of the city where the majority of the population comes from other places. The Los Angeles I have experienced is a cultural smorgasbord set in eclectic urban architecture.

Since the birth of my son I have also explored ideas in my work that touch upon the anxieties of raising a child in an environment that I believe is on the brink of disaster due to the greed and ignorant over consumption of the planet’s resources. The images touch on the tragedy of children forced to survive in an apocalyptic environment and violently fend for themselves, an idea that tears at the heart of the natural instincts of fatherhood and the impotence of family protection. More recently these portraits have crossed over into the dark brooding world of Grimm’s fairytales and mythical surrealistic subjects that help carry and convey the emotion and tragedy of the children I paint. To view more of Richard’s work check out richardjoliver.com or on Twitter @rjoliverfineart.





Photography: Dominic Petruzzi :: dominicpetruzziphoto.com // Model: Sarah Stage :: Elite Models Wow! That’s the only word we can think of to describe what went through our heads when this month’s Supertaste images of Sarah Stage came across our desk. Stunning, beautiful, gorgeous, hot, super model… okay, so there are quite a few other words that may have crossed our minds as well. Needless to say, we weren’t disappointed. Born and raised right here in Southern California, her exotic look is a blend of Costa Rican and European descent. And with over 115K followers on Instagram, it’s safe to say we’re not her only fans. Hair & Makeup: Sothea Ouch :: sotheaouch.com // Retouch: JasonSchorle.com

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team artist - johann ingemar


AFENDS PROMOTES A FREE-LIVING LIFESTYLE BY E XPRESSING OURSELVES T H R O U G H A R T, M U S I C A N D T H E S P I R I T U A L SIDE OF THE ACTIVITIES WE LOVE.

OUR MOTTO IS ‘QUESTION EVERYTHING’ WHICH I S N ’ T A B O U T U S E D U C AT I NG YO U I T ’ S A B O U T Y O U E D U C AT I N G Y O U R S E L F. AFENDS.COM


Photos: Steve Stratton & Jake Smith

Volcom really stepped it up this year at the 2013 Damn Am and had the best amateur skaters from all over converging to wreak havoc on a fresh new course. There was plenty of good times and insane skating in the four-day event, from the early qualifying rounds all the way to the finals. In the end, Curren Caples took top honors and Brodie Penrod took the best trick with a kickflip back tail, kickflip 180 out on the Hubba. Curren Caples was by far the standout of the event, throwing down flawless run after flawless run. His winning run saw him stylishly linking maneuvers, and in particular throwing down a huge frontside flip and a frontside nose blunt. For Curren the win was bittersweet, as it was his last amateur event and he’s now made the jump to the pro ranks. It was a great event for all and it’s great to see Curren moving on and exiting the amateur ranks on top. We’ll see everyone again next year for the 2014 Volcom Damn Am. Final Results 1. Curren Caples 2. Louie Lopez 3. Adriano Lachovski 4. Ethan Loy 5. Axel Crysberghs 6. Chase Webb 7. Trevor Colden 8. Anthony Anaya 9. Jereme Knibbs 10. Brodie Penrod

Curren Caples : F.S Grind

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Curren, Loui & Adriano


Loui Lopez : Fakie Flip

Adriano Lachovski : BS 270 K-Flip

Ethan Loy : Fakie Hurricane

Javan Campello : F.S Blunt

Axel Cruysberghs : Boneless

Trevor Colden : F.S Blunt


Words: Spencer Pirdy :: Photos: Courtesy © ASP Kelly burning Parko out at Kirra, are you kidding me? That’s like Joel back-paddling Slater at Sebastian Inlet. Forget priority. Just think if Joel had continued sliding through that cavernous Kirra pit. Without a doubt he would’ve sped down the line, flown right past Kelly in the tube, made the longest barrel in competitive surfing history and saluted his Aussie compatriots as he exited in the spit to their roaring cheers. Although Kirra was where the 2013 Quiksilver Pro made its climactic finish, the top of the point offered up plenty of World Tour-caliber surfing in the early stages of the competition. By rounds four and five, conditions had improved from fickle and difficult to proper, headhigh Snapper that even offered a tube or two for those competitors who picked the right waves. Many have deemed round four an unnecessary, meaningless round, but the round four heats on display

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at Snapper were hard to ignore, with every heat an expression session in itself. Heat number two saw Julian, Michel and Joel all posting combined heat scores in the 15-point-or-higher range. Julian was able to pull off the upset in the final minute against Parko, thanks to a few of his own patented fin wafts, and jumped straight into the quarters. Heat three had Bede Durbidge looking in complete control until the sevenminute mark when Kelly found his freakish form. Kelly secured a 9-point ride after he opened up on an unsuspecting Snapper wall with a full-body snap that released his fins and sent his tail drifting all the while Kelly remaining perfectly centered over his board. With less than two minutes remaining Kelly decimated another wave for a 9.27, and while Wilko and Bede surfed exceptionally well, they were both relegated to round 5. In round five, Michel defeated Jeremy Flores with powerful arcs

and jabs which revealed a newly polished Spartan who will be a threat on tour this year no matter what venue he’s surfing. Joel snuck past Adam Melling, Bede edged out Brett Simpson, and in the battle of the in-form goofy foots of the event Wilko took down Travis Logie. In the quarterfinals the conditions failed to provide. Michel, Kelly, Joel and Mick dealt with subpar Snapper the best they could to move into the semifinals before the event was called for the day. To the relief of contest director Jake Patterson, everyone awoke on the last day of the waiting period to see that Kirra was finally beginning to churn out barrels. The event was relocated and with a dropping tide the first semi between Michel and Joel hit the water. Joel was quick to pounce as he opened up with a 10-point ride for a multiple-section barrel. He backed it up with an 8.17 and secured his final spot. Semifinal number two saw fireworks from start

to finish. Mick put Kelly up against the ropes early with an 8.67 and a 9.93, but once Mick had exited his 9.93 Kelly was on the next wave scoring a 9.37 of his own. Kelly was left needing a 9.24 with five minutes remaining and Kirra sent him just what he was looking for- a 10-point drainer with a rail-grab cutty to finish. Straight into the final and Kelly and Joel exchanged with almost identical opening rides. Kelly’s second scoring ride was a deep tube, not the cleanest, but when he exited he threw down one of the most critical turns of the event with a full-tilt layback snap under a breaking lip. The judges gave him a 9.83. Parko was left needing a high 9 and opted to sit deeper up the point than Slater. Eight minutes remaining and the wave Parko was looking for reared up. He made the ledged-out drop, set his line and began pumping, but then he all but stopped and stood in disbelief,


Slater


Parko

Fanning


Taj

Bourez

almost remembering of the priority situation as Kelly scrapped his way into the same wave further down the line. Joel flipped Kelly off before hitting the eject button to avoid meeting Slater. If Joel had continued it would’ve been an interference call and he would’ve put himself out of contention with eight minutes remaining. It was a tactical move by Slater, and it surely ruffled a few pro-Parko feathers, but the fact of the matter is that Joel would’ve done the same to Kelly in a heartbeat. “He’s got every right to do it,” he said. “I’d do the same to him. I had to throw up the bird to be like ‘You bastard,’ you know?” In the dying moments Parko was unable to find a wave to surpass Slater. Thus is the way of competitive surfing, and middle fingers aside Parko wasn’t all that bummed. “It was an amazing event. You’ve got to be happy with the waves we got. It’ll be remembered forever,” Joel said. Kelly racked up his 52nd tour victory and now admits that he’ll be making a charge for a 13th title this year. It sounds repetitive, but the tour has really never looked as strong as it does this year, and we have a Joel/Kelly rivalry once again in the making.

Julian


Anthony Shultz: BS Disaster 60


Words & Photos: Jon Dragonette Shooting a spring catalog in the middle of a California winter can be a little tricky, especially when the weather forecasts are grey skies, rain and unpredictable temperatures. With that in mind, we packed our bags and headed across the country to America’s penis, or what some may call Florida. Our home base for the week was Miami, which in the minds of most consists of white sandy beaches, palm trees and topless

babes. While there is a sprinkle of that, the majority of Miami seems to be a plethora of shitty clubs and shittier people who frequent them. Regardless of our loose perception of Miami, we brought a squad of absolute monsters and set out to skate and destroy whatever we came across. The team was as follows: Anthony Schultz, Denzel White, Anthony Pshebelski and Ricky Webb.

The days were sunny, hot, humid, and a perfect picture of what spring should be, even in the middle of January. So with our local tour guide Dave Anderson, who on a side note is a righteous dude and a trickster on his skateboard, we set out to accomplish something great. Our mission was to shoot a 44-page catalog, as well as film a video to accompany it, in five days. A heavy challenge to some, but our team was hungry to skate new spots and leave

their mark on Miami. Despite our initial concerns with not being familiar with Miami, the spots actually turned out to be amazing, smooth, brightly colored, and nestled into a beautiful backdrop, making for a photographer’s paradise. And as excited as we were to get photos, the dudes were even more amped to get tricks on all this new terrain. On our trip Dave took us to some crazy places, one being


Ricky Webb: SwitchFlip

Anthony Pshebelski: Nose Blunt


Denzel White: KickFlip

an old ampatheater on the water that was covered in graffiti and turned into a DIY skate spot. We also came across several abandoned hotels, which seemed to fill the skyline in south beach. Once inside the gates we came across marble stairs, ledges, perfect gaps to skate, empty pools, giant sculptures, and of course the beach. One thing that we realized pretty fast is that the cops are on heavy patrol here, so we got the boot from a lot of spots very quickly. Most times we did not even have enough time to set up equipment to shoot or for the dudes to warm up. In addition to cops, there are tons of concerned citizens who seemed to have nothing better to do than turn us in or play Johnny-law themselves. Even in the sketchiest of neighborhoods our presence was not quite welcomed. In the end, the week went by like the blink of any eye and before we knew it our time in Miami was up. Five days of skating, accompanied by late nights of partying, we left with full memory cards, funny stories and a satisfied feeling in our bones. We headed back to California and put together what turned out to be one of the raddest catalogs Active Ride Shop has ever put out. Thank you Miami for being so good to us. Even though you are the tip of America’s wang, in the end you didn’t screw us!

Anthony Shultz: BS NoseBlunt




Words: Chris Polovina Photos: Kenworthy “Johnny has a problem, Johnny is out of control!” Robo is sometimes fat, sometimes skinny, and he is always blushing. Conceived on the beach at El Moro, Robo is the best backside tube rider in California. He shapes some mean boards, will burn you, ain’t scared, fought Wardo and does the robotics. Growing up I kept hearing his name out in the water and hated him before I even knew who he was. Anybody who surfed better than me I would automatically talk shit on because I was so insecure. He was winning all the NSSAs, and I figured he was like all the other little NSSA kids: Always smiling, acting like people they weren’t and focused on nothing but winning. I was wrong; John was always up to no good and was a genuine human from day one. I think he is the only surfer to get kicked off the ...lost surf team, not once, but

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twice! How do you get kicked off the ...lost surf team? The first time, the story is that little John got into a serious fight with his childhood hero Chris Ward in Australia. Robo was just a little guy who thought Wardo was the biggest badass around, but Robo never has taken shit from anybody and brawled him. I guess they went a few rounds and John got kicked off the team. He went and rode for another clothing company for a while then found his way back to …lost. He rode for them for a short time, and then once again was given the boot for doing something stupid. I asked him why they kicked him off again, but he didn’t want to talk about it. Not having any backing to travel and surf he started working for Cole Surfboards, where he learned every aspect of producing and selling surfboards. He worked there for six years. He shaped a board one day and loved the whole process. Friends started asking for boards from him, and eventually he decided that he wanted to

start his own label. Robo has been on the beach since the day he was born. Like I said earlier, he was conceived on the sand at El Moro, lived in the El Moro trailer park for years and then moved to San Clemente. I don’t think there is any other surfer that can truly claim to be a local out at “El Mo” the way Robo can. A few years ago John was surfing out there and one of the grumpy old CDM guys who can’t even surf but thinks they own the place started yelling at him and told him to go back where he came from. John snapped and pointed and said, “you see those rocks over there, my mother and father fucked on them and I was conceived there.” The dude didn’t have much to say after that. He never claims a thing, is super quiet and polite but when somebody tries him, he snaps. Back in the day there was no stopping him. He was winning all the contests,




had sick footage in the all the ...lost movies and insane photos in the mags. He was the San Clemente badass following in the footsteps of Wardo. Even today he surfs better than most every pro surfer. He has style for days and will go on any nuts barrel that comes his way. A few years ago him and I were surfing in Baja and somebody John has looked up to his whole life came over to our ski and started lecturing John about how he could have been somebody if he would have put his head down and focused on surfing. This made him so angry that when the next set came in I dropped him on the biggest left of the day, and he made sure the guy was looking, faded left and went right. He just pulled into the biggest closeout death-tube. From the time he stood up until he got blown up in the closeout, his eyes stayed locked on the guy who had just talked shit on him. The guy sat on his ski on the inside tripping. It was so badass.

When I picked him up all he said was, “He is such a dick. Was I focused enough for him, Bubby” Robo started shaping boards just under a year ago and immediately was shaping some truly incredible shred sticks. People started noticing instantly and some of the most talented and accomplished surfers started getting his boards. Some of the guys who have ridden his boards are Nathan Fletcher, Kolohe Andino, Danny Fuller, Eric and Evan Geiselman, Luke Davis, Ian Crane, Dylan Graves, Dylan Goodale, Balaram Stack, and the list goes on and on. The word on the street is that Nathan Fletcher got one of the biggest and longest barrels ever at Skeleton Bay on a Robo board. Everywhere where I go somebody wants to order a board or is super hyped on what he is doing. If you have been surfing Lowers on


any south swell over the last few years then more than likely you’ve had your mind blown by the surfer who never stops blushing. He has style for days and there are not too many people that take Lowers apart the way he does. Seriously, the only guy that I can think of that is on the same level out there is his childhood idol Chris Ward. Recently, Tony Roberts told me a story that happened about 10 years ago. He was in Panama shooting photos at some WQS event when he went to check the surf to see if he should shoot. Right when he rolled up he saw somebody dismantling each wave. Tony couldn’t believe his eyes. It was Tom Curren. He ran back to the truck to grab his camera and setup. He soon realized this

wasn’t Curren. It was Robo. In my opinion, the best compliment one can get as a surfer is being mistaken as being Curren. If Robo cared half as much as his peers did about making it “big time” in surfing he would be on the CT today. Robo is not just a great surfer and shaper, he is one of the most genuine friends a person could ever ask for and very humble man. He took a different road to happiness and has had more than a few hiccups along the way. Today he has established himself as a talented shaper, loving husband and soon-to-be father, and I couldn’t be happier for the guy.


BEAU FOSTER MANSFIELD

MICK

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OWEN

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MACHADO

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MATTE BLACK

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KNOX

www.dragonalliance.com

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DORIAN

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EVAN




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Interview: Faith47 & ROM If there is a man who can isolate a thought and realize it into fact, he is one that I met that summer on my journey to China. The I-Ching has written in it a path that he walks mysteriously armed with jaded ambition and an enduring sense of must-ness. A beautiful thing is that

this world holds so many pockets of vastly different societies, languages and people. And a more beautiful thing is when people are able to step out of their surroundings and communicate their existence with those from other lands. This is the opening of the world we live in. DALeast is one who crosses that border; he is able to erase and redraw it. He can map out new worlds and invent new visual languages with

his work, bringing with him secret messages and meditative lines in turmoil and calm. Luckily we are to witness the progress and stark lines of this man from the east. -Faith47 Questions – ROM (Good friend to Dal) Would you please introduce yourself?

I am the temporary traveler on the earth who is being called DALeast. Did growing up in China have any impact on your work as an artist? I feel really lucky that I was growing up in China where has an amazing history and had profound cultures and is now having a lot of problems with some mirage hope. I really love that country, that’s why I feel sad



about the changes out there. The modern China has taught me a lot of things by its negative ways. That’s where some of my inspirations come from; China is a miniature example of the terminally ill materialism. You can observe the global morbidity through the enormous impact that China is holding. So I really prefer the charm that ancient China had. I am more in between the ancient Chinese and new age international human being. You will find it hard to find me in China or anywhere else around the world, but maybe you will see my work on the corner of your street. Can you remember a time when art really started to influence what you wanted to do with your life?

One day when I was 3 years old I told to my mum that I will be a world travel artist in this life. She was totally shocked by my 3-yearold language. So actually I started my career when I was 3 years old. -:) What has been the most challenging piece of work that you have completed? There is a moment that pops up into my mind. That was 6 years ago, the time when I was crazy, acting like a graffiti writer and graffiti bombing in China. One night me and my past crew mate Mcg went out bombing. We climbed up a billboard, which was the same height as a 5-story building, it was pretty hectic to do that in the cold windy winter night without any protection. It was the

first time that I had the realization of life is not real because death is really close to me. I guess some of the graffiti writers has done that as well. I think that’s the glamour of graffiti, not the childish. Why are you painting animals? I like painting different subjects, not just animals, but I have painted a lot of them because I love animals. They bring this world more vitality and show the onlooker the condition of the world. It is so hard to see them around now. You may feel cold and sad if you land on a planet which only have one kind creature with their machines, so painting animals is a carrier to share my mind and memento. Do you have any exhibitions



or projects in the works for 2013? 2013 is a really busy year for me. Abundant plans need to continue. For sure there will be surprise coming up as well. If you could paint one more wall before the end of the world, anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? I would like to think the world is not going to end and I will paint as many walls as I can. Thanks for this interview, one last message for the readers? Thanks for your time. Questions – Faith47 Do you think that artists have a role in society or if there are any responsibilities in being an artist? Indeed, I think artist definitely should take responsibility within society, especially the artist who works in the public space. Art works for the mind and emotions, so it is powerful somehow.

What makes you excited in life? To see that the world (inner and outer) has the probability of getting better. What’s the most depressing thing? Avidya. [Ignorance] What’s the hardest thing about learning to drive? It’s hard to do something that you don’t like to do. Should we all ride bicycles? Are your paintings therapeutic? Do you ever find subliminal meaning in them after you paint them that you were not aware of when you started? I usually like to develop the idea when I’m painting it. So I really enjoy to follow what is coming up. As for therapeutic, I think everything can be therapeutic or something else, it depending on how the viewer sees it. That’s

why different minds make up different stories by seeing the same thing. I guess the viewer just needs the reference, then they will figure out the rest of part by themselves, it can be anything. Do you think in English or Chinese? *^ˆç∆∆åø@:)≈¬ƒ∑øåƒç√ƒ©%^ &(<;))**. Why are you vegetarian? Vegetables are enough to fulfill me. I can image it must be miserable if someone wanted to eat my body. On the other hand, for me, I think it is eccentric to eat someone else’s body. What is the last thought you would like to have before you die? I think having a thought is not going to help us when we are dying.


Bluntslide : Photo: Keith Oshiro 80


davenport Interview: Mike Franklin Yet another product of Cypress, California’s Furnace Skateshop (a shop that has groomed veterans such as Rob G and Andrew Reynolds to the new faces of skateboarding including Kevin Romar, Julian Davidson and Nick Garcia), Billy Davenport is in the process of being knighted into this elite group of skateboarders. After having his claws in the industry for years, it’s about time he gets the recognition he deserves. It’s easy for a kid to progress on a skateboard when there is no responsibility involved. Most kids will give it up the second they have to get a job, but not Billy. His video part resume runs as deep as his job resume. When he’s not working full-time, he clocks in as the newest World Industries team member. Talent can only take you so far, but talent mixed with a solid work ethic like Billy’s is a recipe for success. Opportunity has finally met preparation – welcome to the team, Billy. - Derek Fukuhara So Billy, let’s start this off by having you break down the normal day in the life for you. I wake up at 4:30 a.m. and hit the snooze button a few times, make some coffee, and then I’m off to work ‘til 2:00 p.m. Then I head home to make more coffee and grab my board and head to Cherry Park for a quick warm up sesh before hitting the streets. I usually skate ‘til the sun goes down, then I head home to catch dinner with the lady, maybe a glass of wine and a movie before passing out to start it all over again the next day. Where are you from and where are you living at nowadays? I’m from Los Alamitos, CA, and currently am living in Long Beach, CA. How and when did you get into skateboarding? I was around 10 years old, and I would always see the older kid down the street doing those little nollie bonks off the sidewalk cracks and was blown away by it. I knew right then that I wanted to skateboard. What skater had the biggest influence on you growing up? Shit that’s a tough one… I’d probably have to say Marc Johnson. The first skate video I had was the old Emerica video “Yellow” and I was super hyped on Marc’s part. What is your favorite video part of all time? I’m gonna have to go with Arto Saari’s part in the Flip video “Sorry.” I see you have a furnace tattoo… How did that come along and how long have you been riding for them? That shit was random. I planned on getting one for a while and one day I woke up and was like, “I’ll just get it today.” So me and my lady went to the tattoo shop and I got it done. I’ve been riding for them for about 7 years now. No one had a Furnace tat yet and those guys have helped me out a lot and they’re basically like family to me. Who else are you riding for nowadays? I’m riding for Heel Bruise, Furnace, Bones Wheels and World. So you’re riding for World Industries now. How did that come along and what made you make the switch from BLVD to World? I made the switch for a few reasons. One, because I know a lot of the World riders and have noticed and was hyped the changes that they were making over there. Secondly, I felt like it was a better opportunity to pursue skateboarding as a career. I’m still good friends with all the BLVD guys and it ended on good terms, I just felt it was time for a change.


Lipslide Gap Out 8 Stair : Seq: Ortiz


F.S Smith : Photo: Ely Phillips

Have you been on any trips with the World guys yet? What’s your favorite thing so far about riding for World? Yeah, we went to AZ on a trip and it was super fun and productive. My favorite thing is that we all go skate and film together and everyone feeds off each other. And it’s just an all-around good time. What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen while on a trip? I got arrested one time on a trip, and when I was in jail I saw some huge black guy with man tits and scars all over his face and body sit down right in front of me and take a shit. Probably the gnarliest thing I’ve ever seen. What do you do for fun when you’re not skating? I work a full-time job so I’m pretty much skating with all the free time I have. When I’m not doing that I’m hanging out with the lady or out getting drinks with the bro’s. Oh yeah, playing pool is pretty fun too. So you have a full-time job… What do you do for work, and is it hard to find time to skate during the week while working so much? I work in an electrical panel shop and I wire various sizes of electrical panels that are used to power up big machinery. Not nearly as complex as it sounds. It’s not too hard to find time to skate during the week because I get off early, and by the time I do get off all I want to do is skate. Dream sponsor outside of skateboarding? American Airlines. That would be sick to get to fly anywhere you want.

F.S Board : Photo: Ely Phillips

An airline sponsor would be amazing. Speaking of, what is your dream travel destination? I’m going to have to say Dubai. Johnny Layton went there

B.S Nose Blunt : Photo: Ortiz

F.S Tail Slide : Photo: Ortiz


B.S Overcrooks : Photo: Ely Phillips and he showed me photos and footage he got when he was there and that place looks amazing. What’s one thing in skateboarding nowadays that pisses you off? All the skaters with big egos. At the end of the day you’re just pushing around a piece of wood with wheels on it. Agreed. So what do you think about rappers trying

to be skateboarders and skateboarders trying to be rappers? I’m down for the fact that Lil Wayne is skating because it seems like he enjoys it and he seems to have the same excitement about it as I did when I first started. I’m definitely not backing the whole TruckFit thing and the fact that it’s taking away from core skate companies that have been in it since day one. Now the skateboarder trying to be

F.S Flip 270 : Photo: Ortiz rapper thing is a whole different story. It’s one thing if you’re actually good at rapping, but throwing away your whole skate career for it is retarded. If you’re a real skateboarder you don’t QUIT skateboarding; you do it ‘til your body is physically unable to do it anymore.

Photo: Ortiz

Well put, Billy. Any last words or shout-outs before we wrap this thing up?

I want to say thanks to Randy Padayo and everyone at Furnace, Richard Mulder at Heel Bruise, Jared Lucas at Bones, everyone at World, my family and friends, my lady Shannon, and anyone else that has helped me out to get to where I’m at today. Last words: “Never take anything for granted, be happy with what you got.”


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Interview: Justin Meyer :: Photos: Bob Plumb Snowboarding emerged years ago as a group of outlaws, assholes, and outcasts shunned in a world of uppity snow sports. Skiers shook their heads, resorts banned us, and we were written off as a fad. Fast-forward some years and snowboarding is now the head shaker frowning upon the snowboarder known as Nick Dirks. We have evolved into a “sport” dominated by aerial

Olympians, energy drinks, college boy office jocks, agents, and coaches. One would think there is no room in this circus for a young Oregonian dirt bag. Certainly not the case, Nick has spit out some of the most entertaining and mindblowing video parts we have ever seen. While this little “sport” of ours may have gone mainstream, Nick has remained the same, and the need for riders like him is stronger than ever. Nick is a genuine guy and could give two shits about whatever the hell iPad McTriplecork can do in the arena. Nick’s approach to snowboarding is simple: film a stylish video part, have fun with his friends, and fuck anyone who says otherwise.



Why aren’t you training for the Olympics? I do have semi-reddish hair, but I think honestly the highest I’ve gone out of a super pipe is like 6 feet. I miss the smaller halfpipes. Maybe I could get a coach and train all winter? Fuck that noise. What is your take on the Olympics and competitive snowboarding? It takes snowboarding in a way-too-serious, triple axle, stunt game direction. That’s not snowboarding to me. Back when I was growing up, the guys that did X-Games and other contest also filmed video parts. Nowadays the guys that do contests might as well be skiing. They don’t film parts, they don’t even film cameos, they just practice a winning run all day like ski racers. They are like human Nascars tricking for the masses. It’s beyond foreign to me… I couldn’t name three guys that compete.

So you spend your winter filming a video part. What is that all about for someone who might not know the difference between you and Shaun White? I spend my winter having a damned good time with my friends, and we all push each other to film and create something we are proud of as a whole at the end of the year. It takes all winter and even longer, and when you add it all up, the outcome isn’t scored or judged. I don’t have a coach and it’s my creation… what I want. There is no difference though in the end. We are all just idiots, avoiding real jobs, and playing on glorified sleds. Who has inspired you and/or put out your favorite video parts over the years? Mikey Leblanc, Shane Flood, the old Grenade videos, Kingpin, Love/Hate… the list goes on.


A lot of brands are ditching their support for videos and pushing Web content. What will happen if the snowboarding video disappears as we know it? Web videos have their place, but they don’t stand the test of time. They live and die the same day, maybe two days if they are really good. The snowboard video lives on forever and will always exist because there are too many people that care about it. So you don’t see yourself filming for Web videos only one day? Never! I am down to film a few Web videos during the winter while filming my part, but the life of a Web video is too short. Videos will always be there and live on. I would rather have a hard copy of my favorite video than look up some link anytime I want to get hyped. Web videos are like print ads; you look at it once and turn the page. Video parts are like covers; they live in your brain forever and hopefully on your shelf if you liked it. Y2K! Tell the people your plans this year. How has your season been going? I’m actually filming a part and working on some web edits along the way called “The Vantasy.” I bought a sweet monster-truckish van and am traveling in that thing while filming. But my main focus this year is filming for Videograss again. The movie is called “The Last Ones.” The season has been going pretty good so far. I’m more hyped on my footage this year

than I have ever been in the past. Let’s hope the old sea leg stays in one piece and I can finish the season strong. You seem like the type of guy that doesn’t give a shit about anything. Haha. Fuck that guy. That last question was actually a quote from a cop on a Videograss trip once. Explain to the readers the situation. I think we were in Michigan? Anyways, we were filming at some college and got busted by the man. The cop asked me if I had a job (being that snowboarder isn’t considered a real job), and I said no. Then he asked if I went to school there… again, the answer was no. Then he gave me some shit-eating grin, looked me up and down and said that shit, “You seem like the type of guy that doesn’t give a shit about anything.” Who has your back and understands the need on their team for a feisty little shit as yourself? Only the best damned companies around duh! K2, Airblaster, Ashbury, Howl and Poler. Any last bit of advice for the kids out there trying to film a video part? Don’t be afraid to be yourself and say “fuck off” to anyone who doesn’t like it. Stay creative, have fun, travel with the right people, be down to be a dirt bag and sleep in the same dirty hotel for weeks on end. Keep your good friends close and enjoy the ride.


Modern Art F R E E A L L A G E S P R E M I E R E M A Y 1 A T T H E O B S E R V A T O R Y, 3 5 0 3 H A R B O R , S A N T A A N A C A 9 2 7 0 4

D O O R S O P E N 8 P M L I V E M U S I C F R O M T H E H I N D U P I R AT E S A N D S P E C I A L G U E S T S AMBIG.COM


Words: Greg Escalante :: Photos: Derek Bahn // C.R.Stecyk exploring the deteritas of Bunker Hill // Stecyk and Adrian Nyman pointing fingers // Greg Escalante and Jeffrey Deitch// Shawn Stussy and Anthony Converse // Steve Olson and Pat Ngoho know what’s up // Charlie Thomas and Kevin Imamura // Brian Ridgeway and friend // Renee Renee aka Jason Boche rolling deep // checking it out // Hovin and Annie A representing the Church of Type

Stecyk has blown minds once again, and not behind the scenes as usual but this time front and center as he took over the lobby of MOCA with his signature Colby boxing posters. His work is executed in many forms from hand-painted to airbrush to letterpress, to a combination of all. Stecyk’s constant theme in this piece is that it is changing by the day, maybe by about 10% each 24 hours, so if you return in a week it will be about 70% different. This relates to Bunker Hill itself, something that Stecyk knows better than most historians. Bunker Hill has radically changed over the years to be beyond recognizable, as demonstrated by the show’s title. We can still 98

find Hope Street. We know Grand (MOCA’s street) used to be Charity and Faith Street and it may be lost forever. So use Craig Stecyk’s installation as a jumping off point and see where it might take you too. This is really what Stecyk’s art is all about. Kudos to Moca’s daring director Jeffery Deitch for recognizing Stecyk’s talent and bringing him to MOCA for a closer examination. He is also the guy responsible for Art In The Streets and is one of the few directors bringing young, exciting new art into major museums.


RI CKY WEBB / FS KI CKFLI P / U PLAN D CA. / PH OTO:D RAGON ETTE WWW.ACTIVERI D ESH O P.CO M

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Words: Pete Dericks :: Photos: Aaron Dodds & Ben Eng // The crew after day 1 at Silverton Mountain // Vans boot developer Garrett Gibb, busting a method // Pat Moore busting through the pow door // Steve Van Doren giving Todd Mitchell from Milosport the “Lone Wolf Award” // Jamie Lynn slasher // A stoked bunch at the top of Silverton Mountain // JG and Raul from Satellite with Jamie and a custom art piece that he made for all the retailers // Our guide, hardly working // Late night cheers at the Grand Imperial Lodge

Chris Coulter had been hounding us to come to Silverton Mountain for the longest time, so we decided to celebrate our 20 Years In Snow anniversary by taking him up on it. I had planned everything out but the only thing that I didn’t realize is that Silverton Mountain was closed on the days we would be there (as was everything else in town). Luckily for us, Silverton was stoked to have 40 of the Vans crew coming in and they rolled out the red carpet for us. Restaurants were opened, the mountain ran the chair just for us and the man above made sure it snowed (48 inches worth). It turned out to be a trip that probably won’t happen for another 20 years. The stoke from that trip will be talked about for a long time. Thanks to Silverton and all for coming out.

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Words: Levi Prarie :: Photos: Douglas Neill // Paloma Theatre // Cosmic, Jack Coleman and Mob Rachado // Merret Scott , Tromber and Droid // Ladies in the house // Al, Tapa and Ford // BradleeColemon and Mark Lando // Stoked // Mel Gibson // Metal Jimmy and Tommy Shaw

Mr. Jack Coleman has done it again! His new film Secret Sound Underground is another mind-bending view of surfing through the acid-stained eyes of the surf film master himself. The premiere down in Encinitas at the La Paloma Theatre brought out the wild side of everyone in the auditorium. The whole back half of the theatre was filled with frothing, frantic Newport locals. Some of the stars of the film were on hand as well including Ellis Ericson, Droid, Ford, Alex Knost and Rob Machado. Before the film even began an impromptu standup comedy/breakdancing/ motivational speaking show was put on by Metal Jimmy, the Cosmic One and Jack. With half the audience already a few tall boys deep, everyone was in hysterics, screaming and laughing at the crazy guys on stage. At one point Jimmy had everyone encouraging him to expose his private metal parts to the crowd. He respectfully declined and proceeded to give a few dozen more war cries before the film began. Secret Sound opens up with Mr. Knost consuming a small handful of mushrooms

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(probably shiitake), foreshadowing that the film will be a trip. It did not disappoint. Jack has mastered the art of combining sights and sounds (and sometimes smells) to keep every eye fixed on the screen. The wave quality of the film was a huge step up from his previous films as well. That, combined with an array of colors and rock n’ roll, kept the audience “Yewing” ‘til the credits were through. After the film everyone stumbled across the street to the Raen after party at some bar, the name of which escapes me. Without any delay, the bands started playing and the bodies started swaying. The first band up was Droid’s new band, Tromberg and the Trombergs. They were fast and loud. Who knew that on top of shredding so hard in the water, Droid also has some of the raddest vocals around. Next up was Mel Gibson, featuring yours truly. All I can remember from this set was a bunch of hair bouncing around in front of the stage and watching hot chicks getting shoved into the pit to the song “Beho” while everyone sang along. All in all, the night was super fun. Raen puts on one badass party and Jack Coleman makes an epic surf flick. I can’t wait for the next one, yew!


@ M AT I XC L O T H I N G

FA C EB O O K .C O M / M AT I X


Words: Team AZN :: Photos: Le Panda // The band Hotel Mexico, making love to our ears all the way from Kyoto, Japan // Patrick Pearse was probably puking from being so nervous at this point, glad we finally got the sound working // Lady friends // Prowlers // Insight super intern Alex List & reality superstar Kirstin Bartram // Jillian four eyes // Nick Atkins // Insight LA regulars // The man, the myth, the legend: Robbie Owens-Russo & friend // Jamie Parkhurst, his tongue, Otis Carey, his hair, their cute friend & Patrick Pearse

Finally, the long-awaited US film tour of Kill the Matador, Patrick Pearse‘s visual biopic of Otis Carey, debuted its naked self at Insight LA for its first stop. The store was jam-packed with folks coming from all over to witness the mayhem and to meet and greet the film’s talent Otis Carey and filmmaker Patrick Pearse. The packed house participated in a heavy dose of good vibes, booze, and ear candy, with a very special live performance by Hotel Mexico. Otis’s foggy recount of the night went something like this, “…some even cried. I know I nearly cried when the film shat itself halfway through. We all tapped our feet and high five’d each other while sipping on some PBR and Peligroso. I blame the tequila for getting us kicked out of our hotel room and having to drive all the way back down to San Clemente, whilst Mr. Paddy Pearse woke up next to the girl of his dreams.” Yeah, it was that good. Check out insight51.com as the US tour continues up and down both coasts. Big thanks go out to PBR, Peligroso, Hotel Mexico and Nathanetics.

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Interview: Max Ritter :: Photo: Tiffany Yoon

Mike Polizee has taken his Purling Hiss project to new heights with state of the art gnar-pee-pee-gnar production tactics. Read up on me asking him questions about his band and then go pick up their super badass new album entitled Water On Mars. It comes with a Philly Cheesesteak. Talk about how this record is sort of a milestone for you and everything you’ve put out over the years. This is the first record I have had an actual band with and the first to be recorded in the studio. All the old recordings were completely recorded by myself with limited resources and no band. I’ve had a band now for the last couple of years, so this is a great step for us. The collaboration and influence of others in the band seems to reflect a lot in the sound of the new songs. Can you speak about those guys and what they’ve brought to the table? Though I’m still the primary songwriter, it’s inevitable that adding personalities to the mix is going to come through, and that’s sort of how I wrote this album. I basically learned the language of how we all play and wrote and rehearsed the songs that best complimented us. On drums, we

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have Mike Sneeringer, and on bass, Kiel Everett. It’s a pretty natural progression but talk about your leap to your first proper studio production record. You’ve officially shed the lo-fi four-track that you grew up with. Was it hard to let go? It was definitely a big leap for me artistically. There are no homerecording tricks of warbling tapes melting away on this. I wanted to embrace where I was at and it wasn’t alone in a basement with a broken four track. The new album was recorded at Uniform Studios by Jeff Ziegler and co-produced by Adam Granduciel from The War on Drugs. How was the experience going into a studio and working with a producer? Recording with Jeff and Adam was great – just like old friends hanging out. Also, our drummer actually lives at the studio so it was literally like recording at home, comfort-wise. Jeff’s setup is killer too. It’s a great room, and we all tracked basically live. I think it really captured our true sounds. Is the sound ultimately what you were going for? Sure, thus far, yes. It was like leveling up to a new place. Now that I’m there I’ll start bringing

back some of my old personality in future recordings. More psych elements, layers, and… shredding of course. It was a long overdue experience and I’m glad we made it happen. One of my favorite tracks on the new record is the single “Mercury Retrograde.” What is Mercury Retrograde? What is that song all about? It’s when the planet Mercury goes into retrograde, which happens about four times a year for about a month. It’s an astrological event when everything goes awry and is on the fritz, and without getting too deep, that’s just what the song is about. When I first heard that song for some reason it reminds me of John Davis and the band Superdrag from the ‘90s. The riff gives me that vibe for some reason. Yeah, I know some of the tunes… Who sucked out the feeeeeeelin! Not too much past that. The song’s an earworm, but I never really delved into them, and though it’s understandable that’s not really a main influence. You are quite the guitar shredder and you have a great fuzz tone that we really get to hear on this new record. Tell us a little about what inspires your tone, and what is your

gear setup? I play a Mexi-Strat through an Ampeg VT-22 half stack. I just use a Boost, Big Muff, and a Wah-wah pedal. Are there dogs howling on the beginning of “Water on Mars” or am I hearing things? Haha – that’s a first. Yea, audio hallucinations… How come Chicago labels love you guys so much, and how does it feel to now be part of a great label like Drag City? It’s funny that Chicago is kind of home base for us. My first record came out on Permanent Records in Chicago, and now we’ve returned with Drag City. It’s so awesome. They are such a classic label that’s stayed consistent over the years and just keeps putting out killer records. To work with them is a total privilege. What can we look forward to on this upcoming tour? We’ll be playing almost all the new songs and all our best old ones that made the cut. The set we’ve been practicing has a great flow to it and I think we’re playing better than ever. Come on out! Water On Mars is available now via Drag City Records and Purling Hiss will be on tour this month and FOR-EV-ER.



Burgerama II Live Review & Photo: Max Ritter

The Observatory, Santa Ana, CA Friday March 22nd, 2013

This is a shot of Ty Segall sending one while The Spits ripped off faces at Burgerama II. Year two saw even more kids losing their wigs than year one. Hats off to Sean, Lee, and all the Burger Records dudes for a successful second run. Also shout-outs to Jon Reiser, Ian and The Observatory bunch for being rad and making it happen!

Reviews: Max Ritter

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Push The Sky Away Bad Seed Ltd.

Colleen Green Sock It To Me Hardly Art

Suedehead Lying In Bed 7” Single I.S.R.S

More harrowing ballads from Lucifer himself. The guys’ lyrical rants are the best. Who else gets away with opening a song with, “I just finished writing Jubilee Street...” two tracks after a song titled Jubilee Street. No one does that.

Bubblegum scum for the ladies. If it ain’t MIN-I-MAL it’s CRIM-IN-AL. Real drums are for bums.

The raddest Brit in Costa Mesa drops his mod-soul flavor on a cover of Fugazi’s “Waiting Room” for side B. Check it out and then go get the Johnny Mar haircut and see if you can join the horn section. Digital on iTunes and vinyl at suedehead.com.

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Heavy Hawaii Goosebumps Art Fag Jo Jo Keylargo and Matt Bahamas expand on their pitch-shifted pop approach with their new LP. Like Disneyland on a mess-load of hallucinogens, like Beach Boys soured and moldy, like Four Lokos backwards and opposite.



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Rider: Ryan Carlson Photo: Joe Foster

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Huntington Beach PH: (714)594-3220

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